Madonna in Scotland for wedding

A BBC camera crew captured the star's arrival

Pop diva Madonna is in Scotland to prepare for her wedding later this week to film director Guy Ritchie.

She arrived by private plane at Inverness Airport at 1330 GMT on Monday, accompanied by her husband-to-be, baby son Rocco and daughter Lourdes.

They were whisked away to Skibo Castle in a Range Rover with blacked-out windows.

The arrival, which was greeted by a lone piper playing the Madonna hit "Like a Virgin", was watched by a rank of photographers and reporters.

Guy Ritchie emerges from the aircraft

Madonna, 42, descended the steps of the white Falcon 2000 aircraft dressed in a three-quarter length red and orange tartan jacket and black trousers.

Guy, 32, was dressed in a black polo neck and beige trousers.

Strict security measures were already in place for the entourage's arrival, with the media kept behind barriers.

A small group of fans also gathered to watch Madonna's arrival.

Weeheong Barras, a 27-year-old optician from Inverness, said: "I lived in London before and I never really saw anyone, so it is quite ironic to be in Inverness and see a celebrity."

Christening

Anne Cowley, 51, from Culloden, near Inverness, said: "The setting she has chosen, she couldn't have chosen anything better. It is such a romantic setting."

The couple's marriage will take place on Friday at Skibo amid high security and will be conducted by Dornoch Cathedral's minister the Reverend Susan Brown.

She is expected to present the couple with a twin pack of toilet rolls, which she said are "long and strong" as she hopes the marriage will be.

A christening ceremony for Rocco is expected to take place at the nearby cathedral the night before the wedding.

The wedding party is heading to Skibo Castle

A host of guests is expected from both sides of the Atlantic for the ceremony.

They are expected to include actor Rupert Everett, Madonna's co-star in the film The Next Best Thing and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who is believed to be acting as matron of honour.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston may be there too.

Stella McCartney, who is understood to have designed the wedding dress, will be there to check on her handiwork.

On Guy's side will be ex-footballing hardman Vinnie Jones, whose acting career was launched when he appeared in Ritchie's first film, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Sting's wife Trudie Styler, who introduced the couple at a dinner party at her north London home in 1998, will be there with her husband.

Ritchie and Madonna's son Rocco, who was born in August, may be christened on the eve of their wedding.

The world's media have been busy booking any and every available hotel room and accommodation in the small, quiet Highland community.